Austin Players to Watch Heading into Next Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fortunately for me and fellow local fans of the game, there are many highly-skilled players that call the capitol city of Texas home. Below are a handful of talented student-athletes doing big things in the Austin area to keep your eyes on this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2108209,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2110266' first='Jack' last='Seiders']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Westlake High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Austin Unbreakable","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"What stands out to me most about Jack is his advanced basketball IQ and court vision. He's a versatile big with an amazing ability to stretch the floor for his shooters with his impressive three-point accuracy and excellent post-up game. His footwork and fundamentals are next level, which is rare to see in a prospect this early. He'll use his swift first step to pass up good shots for great shots and he always seems to make the right cut or pass. He reminds me of a speedy Pau Gasol, using his length and awareness to easily post up and shoot over his defenders or dish it to an open teammate. He calmly works his way out of double-teams by making the right decisions. He's a beast on the offensive glass and knows how to play off the ball. Not once have I seen him back down from any opponent at the rim and he's able to draw contact while staying focused on finishing his shot. Though he's used to draining threes, he attacks the paint consistently and that's refreshing to see in an environment where the three has become king. Seiders is a special talent that I anticipate will draw plenty of attention this upcoming season.rnrnPro comp: Pau Gasol","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":2108702,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Jared Robins","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77245","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"McNeil High School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Austin Unbreakable","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The first thing I noticed about Jared was how he uses his length and size to his advantage. His shooting form is excellent and he's able to elevate over his defenders to get a clear look at the basket virtually any time he wants. His hustle and grit never seem to waiver as he runs the floor at full speed looking for the ball from his teammates, finding his lanes and cutting to the hoop for an easy dunk. He dominates the offensive boards down low and has a quick put-back attempt to ensure he racks up the second-chance points. He uses his ability to go either way with his impressive ballhandling to get to the paint or create space for an open jumper. He's able to identify his spots as an ace shooter and get his shots off before his defenders even have a chance. His team isn't afraid to go to him in the clutch either, and he doesn't shy away from the moment, confident to step up and take the last shot to send his team to victory. He's a versatile player who can effectively stretch the floor and play at SG or either forward position. He rounds out his skill set through his effort on the defensive end, again using his length and size to alter and block shots and never taking a play off. I expect him to make a lot of noise this upcoming season and continue to be an absolute asset for his team.rnrnPro comp: Dirk Nowitzki","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":2108738,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Nicholas McLean","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Del Valle High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"KSK-Club","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Nicholas has a way of flying through the air like no student-athlete I've seen recently. It's not just the dunks that catch my eye, but the grace he's able to move with on his way in for the jam. I can't help but think of a young Dominique Wilkins when I watch him play. His vertical is only one facet of his game though, as you'll quickly find out when watching him play on the other end of the floor. McLean has a tenacity on the defensive end, displaying the versatility to guard positions 1-5 with his length, hustle, and quickness. He never takes a play off and will always compete for rebounds and 50/50 balls. He's able to use his length offensively to pull up and rise over defenders for high-percentage jump shots. He's a great shooter off the dribble and can cause problems for the other team from the 3-point line. He's an asset to his team because of his versatility, his attitude, his shooting ability, and his finesse. He's young to already be making noise on the Varsity squad, but when you watch his game, you understand why he was such an early addition. I expect Nicholas to get even stronger this upcoming season and I'll be watching for more of those windmill dunks as well.rnrnPro comp: Dominique Wilkins","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":2108740,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Suley Shah","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Westwood High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"ATX Future","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Suley has an amazing handle and is fantastic at leading his team down the court. He loves to go behind his back when changing direction and he knows how to move the ball effectively to put his team in position to take the best shot available. He's a lefty and he does extremely well with his pump fakes to either get an open shot or bait his defender into sending him to the charity strike for an automatic 2 points. You can see he puts in the work by observing his solid shooting form and the passion he displays for the game on the court. He's not just a jump shooter either, he'll drive the lane and take on bigger defenders with no reservations. Often times, this results in a cutting teammate receiving a quick dish from him for an easy layup or dunk. I imagine he's a joy to play with because he knows how to shine himself while making his teammates look good at the same time. His finger roll is ridiculously pretty and he's a force from the 3-point line as well. He takes advantage of his quick release to drain jumpers consistently and is able to alter his body effectively while in the air to get a better shot or draw contact. I expect this combo guard to catch plenty of eyes this upcoming season, especially if he keeps elevating his team along with himself.rnrnPro comp: James Harden (The Houston version, of course)","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":2108761,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Gavin Paull","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Westlake High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Austin Unbreakable","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Gavin is fearless and I love to see that this early in a player. He plays with a mature confidence that you don't see very often on the high school level. He's a great shooter and has the ability to pass into lanes you don't even realize are there until he's already done it. He gets to the free throw line plenty with his no-hesitance approach and his superb ability to bait his defenders into fouling. His basketball IQ and the kind of reads he makes in-game give me the impression that he's been playing for a very long time. He makes it look easy, which is rare this early. He's a fierce defender that will hustle with everything he has and never lose sight of his assignment. He can handle the ball extremely well and he knows how to run a team and set them up for victory. He's one of the best combo guards I've seen recently and the way he sees the court at such a high level is nothing short of amazing. He's excellent at staying aggressive and driving and kicking to an open teammate for an easy deuce. I expect Paull to garner plenty of attention this upcoming season and to continue elevating his team to new heights of success.rnrnPro comp: Steve Nash","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c836efa7c8d"} /-->